Fire-escape



(No Model.)

H. RENSOH.

FIRE ESCAPE.

No. 281,186. Patented July 10, 1883.

Aftorney PATENT Fries.

HENRY RENSOH, OF QUINCY, ILLINOIS.

FIRE-ESCAPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 281,136, dated July 10, 1883.

Application filed April 5, 1883. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY RENsoH, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Quincy, in the county of Adams and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fire-Escapes; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, and to letters or figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to that class of fireescapes which are attached to the windowcasing, and are provided with ropes which may be let down from the outside of the building to form a means of escape; and it consists in the construction and combination of the parts, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth, and pointed out in the claim.

In the annexed drawings, which illustrate my invention, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the interior of a room, showing the apparatus attached to a window. Fig. 2 is an exterior perspective View, showing the apparatus in position ready for use.

Referring to the drawings, A represents a window-casing, which is provided on its exterior portion, near the bottom of the same, with outwardly-projecting brackets a, having angular recessed ends.

To the interior of the windowcasing are pivoted two arms or brackets, B B, which have their ends bent, substantially as shown, so as to reduce the width of the same. The ends of these brackets are united by a cross rod or bar, 0, which is pivoted within the same so as to rotate freely. To this roller or cross-bar G is attached one or more ropes or a flexible ladder. If a single rope is employed, it is provided at its end with suitable snap-hooks and a weight, the weight being for the purpose of causing the rope to rapidly uncoil and descend and the snap-hooks for forming a loop or loops which may be placed around the I body of a person. When two ropes are emplayed, one may be coiled around the rod in an opposite directiomandby this means, when one end of the rope is fastened around the ing, or even by a person who descends, andwill act as a friction-coil by means of which the descent may be regulated.

To the interior of the window-casing, preferably beneath the sill of the window, I pro vide a suitable longitudinal box, which has a central depression or receptacle and a curved hinged lid, the receptacle at the center of this box being for the purpose of receiving suitable tools and implements-as a hatchet-which will serve as a weight and cause the rope to uncoil more readily. This box incloses all the operating parts of the fire-escape hereinbefore described.

When it is desirable to place the fire-escape in aposition for use, the bOX is opened, and the bracket carrying the roller is raised and turned so as to extend out of the window, this bracket being of a sufficient length to carry the roller outwardly for a sufficient distance from the building to pass beyond all signs, trimmings, or other projections which may be attached thereto. These arms assume very near a horizontal position, and when the apparatus is not used as aiire-escape a board maybe placed thereon, thus forming a scaffold upon which a person may stand when it is desirable to wash the outside of the windows.

By this device it is evident that a person may be lowered from a building either by his own efforts unassisted or by the assistance of the person within or without the building, and I also provide a means which, being permanently attached to the building, is always in position when required for use.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The receptacle herein described, having a central downwardly-enlarged portion and a curved cover, in combination with a roller, (3, and bracket 13, adapted to operate substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HENRY RENSOH.

\Vitnesses:

A. W. Swsnrwonr, EDWARD ORSCHEL. 

